Aerodynamic balanced wood form and/or iron form golf club

ABSTRACT

The wood or iron golf club has a reduced shaft width transverse to the direction of motion and a greater shaft depth parallel to the direction of motion, therefore, has a reduced frontal area that creates less aerodynamic drag and a higher resistance to bending opposite the direction of motion, respectively. The low drag rigid shaft allows higher head velocity, higher momentum transfer to the ball, higher ball velocity, and longer more accurate drives then current clubs with elongated cone shaped symmetrical shafts. 
     The wood or iron gulf club shaft-head configuration has the shaft axis intersecting the common axis of the horizontal component of the line of play and the head center of gravity. The club therefore does not create a torque about the shaft axis during the swing motion or ball impact and facilitates greater accuracy and consistency in hitting the optimum point on the ball with the optimum point on the club head.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This specification falls under United States Patent Classification ClassD21 Games, Toys, and Sports Goods, Subclass 733 Golf Club. Terminologyin this specification is based on the Rules of Golf, Rule 4 Clubs,Appendix II Design of Clubs, Jan. 1, 2008, published by the UnitedStates Golf Association. The wood form and iron form of golf clubs,often called drivers, are the subject of this specification; the putterform of golf club is not a consideration in this specification. Windeffects are considered negligible in this specification. Basic parts ofa golf club are defined as the grip that is held by the golfer, theshaft that is a structural member between the grip and the head, and thehead that is designed to strike a golf ball.

In the golfing endeavor a golfer swings a golf club and strikes a golfball. A specific direction and distance of flight by the golf ball isdesired. Based on conservation of momentum, defined as the product ofmass and velocity squared, the higher the velocity that the optimumpoint on the head strikes the optimum point on the ball, the farther andmore accurately the ball will travel toward the target.

Club motion during the swing is subject to aerodynamic drag; aresistance to motion that increases with increasing frontal area of headand shaft. Aerodynamic drag also increases with club velocity. Thisaerodynamic drag dissipates energy and limits club velocity.

Shafts typically have a larger diameter at the grip end and a smallerdiameter at the head end. Motion of the club and impact of the head andball create a minor bending of the shaft in the opposite direction ofmotion that reduces energy applied to the ball, reduces ball traveldistance, and contribute to inaccuracy of ball travel.

The optimum point of head contact on the ball is in a vertical planethat bisects the ball and target. The optimum point on the ball and inthe plain is opposite the axis of maximum trajectory. If the ball isstruck lower than the optimum point, energy is wasted in excessiveelevation and the ball falls short of the target. If the ball is struckhigher than the optimum point, the ball falls short of the target andenergy is wasted by rolling on the ground that may or may not havevegetation.

The optimum point of contact on the head is a point on the convexleading surface that is on the common axis of the horizontal componentof the line of play and the head center of gravity. Striking the optimumpoint on the ball with the optimum point on the head is made difficultby the head center of gravity lateral off-set from the shaft linearaxis. Motion of the club and impact of the head and ball create a torqueabout the axis of the shaft; this moment about the shaft axis increaseswith increasing club velocity. Approaches such as a tight grip andgloves attempt to minimize the inaccuracy and inconsistency of balltravel that is imposed by this torque, but these measures can onlymitigate an inherent design deficiency. Current state of the art doesnot provide a club with the balance to consistently connect the optimumpoints on the club and ball.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a gulf club shaft that has a reduced width transverseto the direction of motion and a greater depth parallel to the directionof motion. This shaft cross-section differs from current elongated coneshaped shafts that are symmetrical about their axis. The club has areduced frontal area that creates less aerodynamic drag, thereforepermits higher head velocity on impact, greater momentum transfer to theball, higher ball velocity, and longer drives of the golf ball.

The invented shaft cross-section with greater depth parallel to thedirection of motion provides higher resistance to bending away from thedirection of motion than current clubs with elongated cone shapedshafts. The club has greater rigidity in the direction of motion thatdissipates less energy during swing and ball impact, transfers moreenergy to the ball, therefore permits higher ball velocity, and longerdrives. The decreased shaft bending also increases directional accuracyof ball travel.

The invention is a gulf club shaft-head configuration that has the shaftaxis intersecting the common axis of the horizontal component of theline of play and the head center of gravity. The club therefore does notcreate a torque about the shaft axis during the swing motion or ballimpact and facilitates greater accuracy and consistency in hitting theoptimum point on the ball with the optimum point on the club head.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

The following is a list of all included figures:

FIG. 1: Side Elevation of Golf Club

FIG. 2: Front Elevation of Golf Club

FIG. 3: Section View 1-1 of Golf Club Shaft

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention is a new cross-section for a golf club shaft and a newconfiguration of shaft and head. This invention does not change themethod of using the current golf club. Materials of construction are thesame as current golf clubs. The methods of fabrication and assembly forthe grip, 1 in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, shaft, 2 in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG.3, and head, 3 in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, can be achieved with conventionalmanufacturing processes.

This invention is a gulf club shaft of typical length that has a reducedwidth transverse to the direction of motion and a greater depth parallelto the direction of motion. The club shaft therefore has a reducedfrontal area that creates less aerodynamic drag, permits higher headvelocity on impact, greater momentum transfer to the ball, higher ballvelocity, and longer drives of the golf ball then current clubs thathave symmetrical cone shaped shafts. The invented shaft cross-sectionprovides higher resistance to bending away from the direction of motionthat dissipates less energy during swing and ball impact, transfers moreenergy to the ball, therefore permits higher ball velocity, and longerdrives. The less flexible shaft also has greater directional accuracy ofball travel than current clubs with elongated cone shaped symmetricalshafts.

This invention is a gulf club shaft-head configuration that has theshaft axis intersecting the common axis of the horizontal component ofthe line of play and the head center of gravity. The club therefore doesnot create a torque about the shaft axis during the swing motion or ballimpact and facilitates greater accuracy and consistency in hitting theoptimum point on the ball with the optimum point on the club head.

With respect to the above description, all equivalent relationships tothose illustrated in the drawing and described in the specification areintended to be encompassed by the present invention. The presentinvention is capable of other embodiments and of being executed invarious ways. An example is the shape of the shaft cross section thatcould have infinite shapes that provide the minimum width to depth ratioand necessary structural integrity. It is to be understood that thephraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose ofdescription and should not be regarded as limiting. Therefore, theforegoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of theinvention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction shown and described, andaccordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resortedto falling within the scope of the invention.

The following claims point out the subject matter regarded as theinvention:

1. The reduced shaft width transverse to the direction of motion and agreater shaft depth parallel to the direction of motion has a reducedfrontal area that creates less aerodynamic drag and higher resistance tobending away from the direction of motion, respectively.
 2. Theshaft-head configuration that has the shaft axis intersecting the commonaxis of the horizontal component of the line of play and the head centerof gravity.